Part 2
Aaron Gono
A ‘Cult’ can be defined as “any group which promotes beliefs or practices that deviate from mainstream society or established religions.” In Zimbabwe, from year 2000, this phenomenon began to take shape.
As the country is a signatory of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Zimbabweans enjoy civil liberties, including freedoms of assembly, association, speech, religion, and press. Although the country is on record for human rights abuses. Yes every country in the world has a glass half full, and the United States of America is not a signatory to many laws in the Declaration of Human Rights.
I am not condoning the country’s abuse of human rights; henceforth it must stop. Cults to be established usually they bend the laws to justify their deeds and presence. The Ku Klux Klan of the United States was one cult; that used laws to make themselves relevant. They hold rallies, political engagement and road shows to promote their white supremacism.
Its target were African Americans, Jews and other migrants. It advocated for free speech and assembly. Like Dudula in South Africa, it blamed Zimbabweans and other immigrants of taking away their jobs. So all prejudiced whites fall into the trap and create chapters in every city. It also lobbied for certain politicians to be appointed in offices.
The Ku Klux Klan employed intimidation tactics aimed at African Americans; likewise Dudula in South Africa targeted Zimbabweans. The Klan used the media to propagate and promote their beliefs. Dudula used the South African police and media to share its disgruntlement with foreigners. Cults always create that legal status, to justify its shortcomings. That’s the modus operandi of cults.
In Zimbabwe as churches began to mushroom everywhere in 2000, and thereafter. Nobody could stop them as they were enjoying some of the civil liberties; freedom of assembly, association, and religion. Zimbabweans began to really love God as poverty was now playing tricks with them and charismatic preachers took the opportunity to right every wrong and promised them prosperity. The task was and is still easy, you just pray and remember the ‘ tithe.’ Like a pyramid scheme some really prospered from the pickings of these churches.
The white garment church also took hostage to gullible worshippers too. They simply set their theatres in open spaces and plant their “mukonde” tree and seed some clay pots in the vicinity . The theatre in the country is called “kirawa”, this is where miracles (minana ) are performed.
You are given a stone to go and bath thrice or more and your misfortunes will be gone. Simple. These churches are now found in every corner of Zimbabwe. Every big tree in rural areas, there is a ” Madzibaba” shrine. That’s how cults are made, where decisions are made by a single individual. These guys are good at manipulating their audiences. They include use of high- pressure tactics to maintain control over members. Audiences usually get hooked that in their families there is an avenging spirit (ngozi), that only him ( the prophet) can keep at bay.
Women are told your marriage misfortunes are caused by your aunt who died without a marriage. Barren ladies are told that very soon you will conceive. With such promises you will remain loyal to his/ her (prophet teachings). That’s how a sense of dependency is instilled, indoctrination through repetitive teachings.
Usually your friend once he get enlightened and join these churches, not the white garment church alone but other churches with a cult inclination. Your friend will start insidiously avoiding you (isolation). Your old ties will be removed and his loyalty will be to his church owner and members only. This is maintained as a form of puritanism. Once these guys are in such a vice, it will be difficult for friends to help them. Because they will be calling you “vanhu vekunyika” (infidels).
Some churches indirectly coerce their fellowship to donate big amounts of money often at the expense of their personal finances. The moment the charismatic preacher claims to speak to God, what would be the gullible followers think, except deep loyalty to the anointed?
“Tsikamitandas” are also cults, they pretend to have powers to remove goblins and other traditional mischiefs like witchcraft. They create divisions in the families and bondage lost amongst themselves. Climate of fear and distrust will be the order of the day in a family/ies. You notice the similarities of both sangomas and preachers, they can create a climate of fear, divisions and isolationism in the family.
Some scholars say it’s easy to identify a church that may be operating as a cult. Watch for these signs; 1. Authoritarian leadership – a single leader or a small group holds absolute power.
2. Exclusive beliefs- group claims to have unique truths and often denounces other faiths.
3. Manipulative recruitment – join our faith and become rich or ” ndiri kuona rima muupenyu hwenyu” ( your life is condemned by evil spirits).
4. Isolation from outside influences.
5. Fear and intimidation – the use of fear tactics, (mukasadaro munofa) spiritual consequences.
6. Financial exploitation
7. Lack of transparency- everything is done by the prophet.
8. Critical thinking is not allowed ( unenge wazvidza dare).
9. New opinions are met with hostility and finally.
10. Ritualistic practices- ceremonies that identify with the group.
All these so-called churches have a right for existence as enshrined in our constitution. It’s either you join or avoid them. The choice is yours.
Aaron Wildvsky an American political scientist commenting on Brexit which he called ” The Law of Large Solutions.” As he saw it, big policy solutions intended to fix a big problem often just create a bigger problem, which then ” dwarfs” ( the original) problem as source of worry.” We are not qualified to say churches, are the problem or the congregants are, neither the constitution which gave rise to them.
